News
Government targets for a gambling levy fail to meet funding needs
7 January 2009
Government funding targets in a consultation document proposing a levy on gambling operators to fund research, education and treatment would fail to raise adequate funds.
Following the failure of the current voluntary system administered by the Responsibility in Gambling Trust to raise sufficient funds, Government propose a statutory levy. They estimated that funds needed for research into problem gambling, education and raising awareness and provision of treatment in 2009/10 are £5.4M. GamCare estimates this figure to be at least £6M. A levy would damage the spirit of goodwill and co-operation which has characterised much of the gambling industry in exercising their social responsibility under the voluntary arrangements. In drawing solely on gambling operators, the proposals also fail to acknowledge the financial benefits of gambling on other sectors such as the credit industry.
Since its establishment 11 years ago, GamCare, the main provider of free counselling and support services and operator of the national helpline, has seen a continuing increase in demand from problem gamblers and others affected by their behaviour. Nationally our face to face counselling is delivered through a strategic network of GamCare-trained and funded Partners on an expanding basis. Such uncertainty over funding jeopardises our ability to plan effectively for future delivery to meet these needs at a time when opportunities to gamble are increasing.
Press contacts: Eileen Kinghan, Marketing Director, GamCare 020 7801 7003, eileen@gamcare.org.uk
NOTES FOR EDITORS
GamCare is the leading national authority on the provision of counselling, advice and practical help for anyone experiencing or affected by problem gambling. GamCare’s confidential one-to-one national support services, available 8am to midnight, are the telephone HelpLine 0845 6000 133 (365 days of the year) and NetLine (Monday to Friday). We provide training in problem gambling for addictions counsellors in many parts of the UK and fund them to deliver free face to face support to anyone who needs it. Reasons for addiction can be complex: gambling sometimes can offer a way of blocking out seemingly intolerable thoughts and feelings. Our counsellors aim to facilitate discovery of the underlying reasons through a range of therapeutic approaches appropriate to the individual.
According to the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007, it is estimated that 0.6% of the UK population (around 300,000 people) are problem gamblers. Considering that each may have a partner, parents and dependents, those affected by problem gambling may number over one million. See the survey here.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport consultation document on the proposal for a levy:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/5722.aspx